Two Researchers Awarded 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships to Advance Brain Health Research

The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association have awarded the 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health to two promising researchers, Hortense Triniac, Ph.D., and Katy Walsh, Ph.D., each receiving a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support critical scientific investigations.

Triniac, a postdoctoral fellow at the Versiti Blood Research Institute, will explore potential mechanisms for reducing stroke risk by examining protein interactions involving apolipoprotein B and tissue-type plasminogen activator. Her research could potentially lead to new therapies that minimize stroke occurrence and improve overall brain health.

Walsh, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, will investigate cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition that causes protein buildup in brain blood vessels and often leads to deadly strokes. By studying a rare apolipoprotein E variant, her work may provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for this currently untreatable condition.

The scholarships, named after the late Dr. Ralph L. Sacco – the only neurologist to have served as president of both organizations – aim to support early-career researchers addressing critical gaps in understanding brain health. Dr. Keith Churchwell of the American Heart Association emphasized the importance of studying how vascular disease impacts cognitive decline and brain health.

Both researchers will begin their projects on July 1, 2025, continuing Dr. Sacco's legacy of advancing neurological and cardiovascular research. Their work represents a significant step toward understanding and potentially mitigating brain health challenges that affect millions worldwide.